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Owen Jones on This Week - 11/01

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I was watching that paper review on Sky News where they were discussing the Orlando shooting when he stormed out as it happened. The first impression I had of him was that he couldn't dominate the discussion in the way he wanted and showed what a churlish individual he can be. However the fact he was coming out with some frankly bizarre statements like telling Andrew Longhurst that he couldn't understand the issues because he isn't gay made me wonder what was actually going on.
The impression I was left was it was all just a performance so he could get his name talked about.

That is really what his appearances on TV are all about. He acts like certain YouTube personalities do in their videos. It's all very contrived.

I've watched his performance on This Week. How he interacts with Michael Portillo and Andrew Neill at times amounts to some of the most evident ham acting I've watched in a long time.

He also has some intelligence about him so I can't take seriously the fact he denied that for years left-leaning journalists, commentators, politicians etc accused anybody who raised concerns about immigration putting pressure on public services as being racist, anti-Muslim etc. happened. It did happen and he knows that's the case. I doubt he missed one of the best examples of a gaffe during an election campaign caused by a party leader who forgot he still had a mic on for one thing.

Can’t stand him. Whenever someone disagrees with him, instead of debating he flies off the handle and throws a tantrum like the petulant child he is. That Sky News Paper review is the perfect example of why he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I think he debates very well - it's not easy when you have a tag team attempting to shut you down.

Yes I agree with that, I think Owen Jones articulates left wing thinking and ideas with more clarity than most others out there.

Can’t stand him. Whenever someone disagrees with him, instead of debating he flies off the handle and throws a tantrum like the petulant child he is. That Sky News Paper review is the perfect example of why he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I think he debates very well - it's not easy when you have a tag team attempting to shut you down.

Yes I agree with that, I think Owen Jones articulates left wing thinking and ideas with more clarity than most others out there.

He also thinks that Corbyn was mainly responsible for the Good Friday agreement.

Yes, I remember reading that when Neil was editor of the Times they ran a lot of HIV denialism stories. Neil famously ok'd everything when he was editor, including this anti-scientific, irresposible and downright dangerous rubbish. That alone should have him ploughing the same pathetic furrow as Andrew Wakefield and his cohorts. He's an unpleasant thug in a suit.

Can’t stand him. Whenever someone disagrees with him, instead of debating he flies off the handle and throws a tantrum like the petulant child he is. That Sky News Paper review is the perfect example of why he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I think he debates very well - it's not easy when you have a tag team attempting to shut you down.

I don’t think he does debate. It always goes something like this:

Host: So Owen what do you think about (insert topic here)?

OJ: Well I think (insert opinion here)

Host: But would some not say (insert counter-argument here)?

OJ: No you’re wrong...... (Begins to personally insult/patronise/smear whoever without challenging or debating the actual opinion of whoever disagrees.)

Have you watched the Sky News Paper review before? I’ve never seen such childish, idiotic behaviour from a so called “professional”.

Quoted for the truth.

He embarrassed himself royally on the sky news paper review to the point where I’m amazed he’s taken seriously.

Having said that, Neil and Portillo are pretty easy targets and I’m not a huge fan of either of them so it is nice to see them a little rattled .

On the negative side, he has sometimes acted like a petulant kid during his media appearances (even when I've agreed with his opinions I've disliked his attitude), but on the positive I really like a lot his interviews and videos uploaded to his you tube channel, including those with people whose opinions he has disagreed with.

However on this occasion he was 100% spot on and I'm delighted that he burned Andrew Neil and Portillo.

Yes, I remember reading that when Neil was editor of the Times they ran a lot of HIV denialism stories. Neil famously ok'd everything when he was editor, including this anti-scientific, irresposible and downright dangerous rubbish. That alone should have him ploughing the same pathetic furrow as Andrew Wakefield and his cohorts. He's an unpleasant thug in a suit.

Yes, I remember reading that when Neil was editor of the Times they ran a lot of HIV denialism stories. Neil famously ok'd everything when he was editor, including this anti-scientific, irresposible and downright dangerous rubbish. That alone should have him ploughing the same pathetic furrow as Andrew Wakefield and his cohorts. He's an unpleasant thug in a suit.

Can’t stand him. Whenever someone disagrees with him, instead of debating he flies off the handle and throws a tantrum like the petulant child he is. That Sky News Paper review is the perfect example of why he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I think he debates very well - it's not easy when you have a tag team attempting to shut you down.

I don’t think he does debate. It always goes something like this:

Host: So Owen what do you think about (insert topic here)?

OJ: Well I think (insert opinion here)

Host: But would some not say (insert counter-argument here)?

OJ: No you’re wrong...... (Begins to personally insult/patronise/smear whoever without challenging or debating the actual opinion of whoever disagrees.)

Have you watched the Sky News Paper review before? I’ve never seen such childish, idiotic behaviour from a so called “professional”.

Quoted for the truth.

He embarrassed himself royally on the sky news paper review to the point where I’m amazed he’s taken seriously.

Having said that, Neil and Portillo are pretty easy targets and I’m not a huge fan of either of them so it is nice to see them a little rattled .

I disagree. The fact is the other commentators on the sky news press preview were trying to downplay the attack on the gay nightclub. It is no surprise that this upset Owen and he acted in the way he did.

Personally I'm not going to get myself too wound up about what Neil has or hasn't been involved in. I'll judge by how he does his job, and I think he's the best political interviewer there is at present, and indeed Jones admits that Neil's interviews are forensic and unrelenting, I would say that he pins politicians down in a way that other interviewers simply don't. And I would have a problem with Neil if I perceived him to be biased in interviews, but I genuinely don't think he is, I think he gives all politicians an equally tough time.

Neil is usually fine (in fact excellent) when he is just doing interviews but unfortunately he also vents his extreme right wing views. Of course all journalists will have their own views but when working for the BBC in his capacity their views should not be so prominent and they should just do their job.

As an comparison former Newsnight journalist Paul Mason left his job that required impartiality when he wanted to give his left wing views more prominence yet Neil continues to keep a job requiring impartiality while spouting his right wing views. The article you linked to puts it very well.

Harass and belittle anyone challenging your views.
Intimidate them in the street, hoping for a bad reaction you can upload to Twitter.
When there is the slightest human reaction claim they are a petulant child while ignoring the substance of what they were saying.
Rinse and repeat.

I don't think this approach convinces anyone beyond those who were already convinced. This is why the Tory party is dying.

His personal views (whatever they are) are entirely a matter for him. Frankly couldn't care less. As long as he does his professional job of skewering politicians from all sides mercilessly. For me he is best in business at that.

final thought on This Week. its on late but at times makes some good points that really challenge my views. Could be most interesting programme of the week. If only they cut out the almost invariably excruciatingly unfunny "comedy bits". I rarely get through to the end as a result. Could be half the length and twice as interesting if they just stuck to discussing sensibly the issues.

His personal views (whatever they are) are entirely a matter for him. Frankly couldn't care less. As long as he does his professional job of skewering politicians from all sides mercilessly. For me he is best in business at that.

Yes at interviewing politicians he is excellent as Owen Jones has acknowledged. The problem is when he brings his personal views in to his public life and that is when it is a problem for someone whose job requires neutrality.

I'm surprised you would say "His personal views (whatever they are)", I'd have though his personal views were clear for all to see - he is very right wing.

If as you acknowledge he is excellent at interviewing politicians of all sides with no bias in accordance with his personal views, then he is performing his job with all the neutrality that it demands.

If when he is not doing the job he is paid for, he wishes to express his political views (and I have to say I have not been aware of this) I don't frankly see a problem. he is surely as entitled to his views as you are to yours.

Because by common consent he is completely impartial when holding to account politicians from all sides and most would say the best political interviewer they have.

He may (or may not, I dont know) hold views which I passionately disagree with. I would defend to the death his right to hold them though as long as they don't interfere with the job the BBC pays him to do. by common consent they don't.